Portable seat cushion with integrated arm rests

ABSTRACT

A portable sitting assistance device includes a cushion configured to be sat upon. The cushion has at least one foam material that can deflect under an applied load and store energy during deflection. A U-shaped cradle extends adjacent a bottom and along two opposite sides of the cushion in a parallel spaced apart relation with respect to one another. Each of a pair of arm rests is coupled to a side frame of the U-shaped frame.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional patent applicationSer. No. 60/838,537 filed on Aug. 10, 2006 which is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to sitting aids and moreparticularly to portable sitting assistance devices.

2. Related Art

As people get older the joints of their extremities often begin causepain due to degeneration, arthritis, brittle bones, broken bones,osteoporosis, and the like. For example, hip and knee joints oftendegenerate with age and cause pain during motion of the joint. Sometimesthese joints require surgery to correct the degeneration, but even afterthe surgery bending or exercising of the joint can be painful during therecovery process.

This painful motion is especially problematic when a person is trying tosit down or stand up from a sitting position because the weight of theperson is shifted from over the standing centerline of the spine andside frames. This shift in weight can cause a bending momentmagnification of the actual weight of the person resulting increasedstress and strain on the knee and hip joints. It will be appreciatedthat increasing the stress and strain on a degenerative or postoperative joint can cause significant pain and result in damage to thejoint bones and tissues.

Some chairs have been developed to assist a person sit or rise from asitting position. These chairs generally have an electric motor that canraise and lower the chair. Thus, a user can raise the chair, move into apartial sitting position with the raised chair supporting the upperbody, and then lower the chair to a normal sitting position. Similarly,when sitting, the user can raise the chair to a partial sittingposition, with the chair providing support to the upper body until theuser can stand independently from the chair. Unfortunately, such chairsare very large and heavy and cannot be easily transported with thepatient.

Other devices have been developed that provide a cushion supported by aspring. The spring and cushion apparatus can be transported, and can beplaced on any chair. When the user wants to sit, the spring can lift thecushion from the chair's normal sitting surface to a higher elevation toprovide support to the user's lowering upper torso. Similarly, whenrising to a standing position from a sitting position, the spring canassist the user by providing an upward force on the cushion.Unfortunately, the spring and related hardware can add significantweight to the device making it difficult to move. Additionally, whenplaced on a chair without arm rests, the user generally has nothing tohold onto and can become unbalanced or feel unstable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventors of the present invention have recognized that it would beadvantageous to develop a portable, light weight device and method forassisting a person to sit or rise from a chair that provides support tothe user when in a partial sitting position. In addition, the inventorsof the present invention have recognized that it would be advantageousto develop a method and device for providing an elevated, deflectable orcompressible sitting surface with hand holds or arm rests for lateralstabilization.

The invention provides a portable seat cushion device, or portablesitting assistance device including a cushion configured to be sat upon.The cushion can have at least one foam material that can deflect underan applied load and store energy during deflection. A U-shaped cradlecan extend adjacent a bottom and along two opposite sides of the cushionin a parallel spaced apart relation with respect to one another. Each ofa pair of arm rests can be coupled to a side frame of the U-shapedcradle.

In another aspect more detailed aspect of the present invention, theU-shaped cradle can include a pair of U-shaped frames in a parallelspaced apart relation with respect to one another and the arm rests cancouple a side frame of one of the U-shaped frames to a correspondingside frame of the other of the U-shaped frame.

The present invention also provides for a method for sitting and risingfrom a chair including placing a base of a frame or cradle of a portablesitting assistance device on a sitting surface with a cushion disposedabove the base. A pair arm rests on opposite sides of the portablesitting assistance device can be grasped. The arm rests can be coupledto sides of the frame or cradle. The method for sitting also includeslowering into a sitting position on the cushion while using or graspingthe pair of arm rests for support. The method for rising can includerising from a sitting position by pushing downward on the pair of armrests.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example,features of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable sitting assistance device inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention, show with acut-away view of a cushion;

FIG. 2 is a perspective bottom view of the portable sitting assistancedevice of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portable sitting assistance device inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention, shown withcut-away views of a cushion and a frame;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the portable sitting assistance deviceof FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the portable sitting assistance deviceof FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the portable sitting assistancedevice of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the portable sitting assistance deviceof FIG. 1, shown on a chair;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the portable sitting assistance deviceof FIG. 1, shown on a chair;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of a portable sitting assistance devicein accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of a portable sitting assistancedevice in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated inthe drawings, and specific language will be used herein to describe thesame. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scopeof the invention is thereby intended. Alterations and furthermodifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, andadditional applications of the principles of the inventions asillustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant artand having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered withinthe scope of the invention.

The embodiments of the present invention described herein generallyprovide for a portable seat cushion, or sitting assistance device,supported by an external or internal frame with arm rests or hand holdsfor lateral support to a user when in a partial sitting or standingposition. The portable cushion device can have a cushion that can beconfigured to carry an applied load when a user sits on the cushion.Additionally, the cushion can have a sufficient height or elevation toprovide support to the user when in a partial sitting or partialstanding position. The portable cushion device can also have a frame orcradle disposed under and around at least a portion of the cushion. Thecradle can be U-shaped and can be formed by a pair of U-shaped frameswith a base of the U-shape extending adjacent a bottom of the cushionand sides frames or legs of the U-shape extending upward along oppositesides of the cushion. Arm rests can join corresponding side frames fromeach of the U-shaped frames along the opposite sides of the cushion. Thearm rests can have an elevation approximately parallel or substantiallythe same elevation as the top of the cushion when the cushion is in anundeflected or uncompressed state.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, a portable sitting assistance device,indicated generally at 10, in accordance with the present invention isshown for use in assisting a user in lowering into or rising from aseated position. The portable seat cushion 10 can include a cushion,indicated generally at 20, a cradle, indicated generally at 50, and apair of arm rests 80.

The cushion 20 can be sized and shaped for a user to sit on the cushion.The cushion 20 can be generally quadrangular in shape having a bottom22, opposing sides 24 and a top 26. The cushion can include open orclosed cell foam 28, as known in the art. The foam 28 can deflect to acompressed state under an applied force. The foam 28 can besubstantially elastomeric and can return to a natural uncompressedstate.

The foam 28 can also have a sufficient density so as to provide asubstantially opposite force to an applied force on the cushion 20. Inthis way, the foam 28 can resist deflection in response to a downwardapplied force when a user sits on the portable seat cushion 10. The foam28 can also store the energy of the applied force and can release thestored energy when the downward applied force decreases in order toprovide an upward force on the user when the user rises from the cushion20. In this way, the foam 28 can act like a spring and can assist theuser in rising from a seated position.

The cushion 20 can be removably coupleable to the cradle 50. Forexample, a strap 30 can be coupled to the cushion 20 and can be used tocouple the cushion to the frame. The strap 30 can have a fasteningsystem to secure the cushion 20 to the frame. For example, the strap canhave a hook and loop type fastener, a snap, a button, a zipper or thelike, to secure the cushion to the frame 50.

A cover 32 can substantially enclose the cushion 20, and the strap 30can be coupled to the cover. The cover 32 can include a cloth materialthat can provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the cushion 20.The cover 32 can also include an elastomeric, rubber or plastic materialto provide a moisture barrier for the foam 28 of the cushion 20 and toprotect the cloth and cushion from undesirable staining ordiscoloration.

A handle 34 can also be coupled to the cushion 20 or the cover 32 toprovide a convenient means for carrying the portable seat cushion 10.The handle 34 can be flexible so as to minimize interference between thehandle and a sitting surface, chair, or side frames of the user when theuser is sitting in the portable seat cushion 10.

The cradle 50 can have a U-shaped cross section with a base frame 52forming a base of the U-shape adjacent the bottom 22 of the cushion 20.Upwardly extending side frames 54 can form legs of the U-shape, and canextend upward along two opposite sides 24 of the cushion. Thus, the baseframe 52 and side frames 54 can form the U-shaped cradle 50 that can atleast partially enclose the cushion 20.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3-8, another portable sitting assistance device70 is shown in accordance with another embodiment of the presentinvention. The portable seat cushion device 70 can be similar in manyrespects to the seat cushion device 10 described above and shown inFIGS. 1-2. The portable seat cushion device 70 can include a cushion,indicated generally at 20, a cradle, indicated generally at 50, and apair of arm rests 80.

Additionally, the cradle 50 can include a pair of U-shaped frames 56.The U-shaped frames 56 can be oriented in a substantially parallel,spaced apart relation with respect to one another. Each U-shaped frame56 can extend adjacent a bottom 22 of the cushion 20. A base 58 of theU-shaped frames 56 can extend across and below the bottom 22 of thecushion as shown in FIGS. 3-5. Additionally, side frames 60 of theU-shaped frame 56 can extend adjacent to and upward along two oppositesides 24 of the cushion 20.

The U-shaped frames 56 can be made from a sufficiently strong materialso as to provide a stable support for a person rising from the cushion20. For example, the U-shaped frames 56 can be made of a tubularmaterial 68 such as PVC tubing or pipe, round or square tubes, metalconduit or pipe, and the like. The U-shaped frames 56 can also besufficiently strong so as to provide a resistive force to lateraldeflection of the cushion 20 when the foam 28 compresses under theapplied load of a user sitting on the cushion. In this way the frames 56can reduce lateral expansion of the cushion 20 when the cushion iscompressed, thereby increasing the resistance of the cushion todeflection and the spring like effect of the cushion returning to anuncompressed natural state as a user rises from the cushion.

A cover 66 can be disposed over the U-shaped cradle 50 and arm rests 80to provide a soft, comfortable grip on the arm rests and frame as wellas an aesthetically pleasing appearance. In one aspect, the cover 66 canbe formed of a soft fabric that can enhance the appearance of the frameand protect the frame from degradation due to repeated use and handling.

A non-slip surface 76 can be disposed below the cushion 20, and U-shapedframes 56 or cradle 50 in order to resist inadvertent movement of theportable seat cushion device 10 when placed on a sitting surface such asa bench or chair, as shown in FIGS. 5-6. For example, a rubberizedcoating can be applied to a lower portion 64 of the base 52 of thecradle 50 or U-shaped frames 56. The non-slip surface 76 can alsoinclude a tread (not shown) that can grip the sitting surface and resistslipping by the portable seat cushion 10.

The pair of arm rests 80 can be coupled to the upward extending sideframes 60 of the U-shaped frames 52. Each arm rest 80 can couple one ofthe side frames 54 of one of the U-shaped frames 56 to the correspondingside frame 54 of the other U-shaped frame 56, thereby joining each ofthe U-shaped frames 56 together along one of the opposite sides 24 ofthe cushion 20. For example, each arm rest 80 can be coupled to a top 60of one side frame 54 of one of the U-shaped frames 56 and can extend toa top 60 of one side frame 54 of the other U-shaped frame 56. In thisway, the arm rests 80 can form a second inverted U-shaped frame 90 alongthe two opposite sides 24 of the cushion 20.

The arm rests 80 can include a material that can provide sufficientstrength in order to support an applied load during entry or exit of thecushion 20 by a user. For example, the arm rests can be formed of astructural plastic, metal, or composite material. The arm rests 80 canbe sized and shaped to support the weight of a user grasping the armrests 80 while lowering into the cushion 20. Similarly, the arm rests 80can be sufficiently strong so as to support the weight of a user risingfrom the cushion, or to support a downward force exerted by a userpressing down on the arm rests 80 while rising from the cushion 20. Inone aspect, the arm rests 80 can be formed from a tubular material suchas PVC pipe, metal conduit, round or square tubing or the like.Advantageously, using a tubular material for both the cradle 50 and thearm rests 80 decreases the weight of the portable seat cushion and makesthe portable seat cushion easily portable.

It is a particular advantage of the portable seat cushion 10 of thepresent invention that the armrests 80 can have an elevationsubstantially the same or approximately parallel to the elevation of thetop 26 of the cushion 20 when the cushion is in an undeflected oruncompressed state. It will be appreciated that many older people suffera loss of balance which can cause them to fall. This loss of balance canbe exaggerated when moving through a partial sitting or partial standingposition. Advantageously, with the height of the cushion 20 being nearthe placement of the hands on the arm rests 80 allows the user to knowwhen they are in contact with the cushion 20, thereby providing agreater sense of balance throughout the sitting or standing motion.

Additionally, the armrests 80 can have an elevation approximately twicethe height of the cushion 20 when the cushion 20 is deflected orcompressed under the applied load of a user sitting on the cushion 20.In this way, the arm rests 80 are advantageously positioned in anaccessible position for pushing down on the arm rests in order for auser to rise off of the cushion 20 when the user is sitting on theportable seat cushion 10.

In one aspect, the height or elevation of the cushion 20 in anundeflected or uncompressed state, with respect to the base 52 of thecradle 50, can be greater than approximately 6 inches. In anotheraspect, the height or elevation of the cushion 20 in an undeflected oruncompressed state, with respect to the base 52 of the cradle 50, can bebetween approximately 8 and 10 inches. In yet another aspect, the heightor elevation of the cushion 20 in an undeflected or uncompressed state,with respect to the base 52 of the cradle 50, can be approximately 8½inches. Other heights can also be used as needed by the user.

It is another particular advantage of the portable seat cushion device10 of the present invention that the cushion 20 can be sizable, or havean adjustable size, in order to provide support to a user in a partialsitting/standing position. A partial sitting or standing position is aposition in which a person's knees are bent at a greater than 90 degreeangle while the person's weight remains solely supported on the sideframes, arm rests, and the user's feet. It will be appreciated that apartial sitting or partial standing position can cause great strain onthe knees, back and hips, and that a person with degenerative joints orpost operative joints may not have sufficient strength to support apartial sitting or standing position. Advantageously, the cushion 20 ofthe present invention can be sized by adding or removing foam sections28 so as to provide a greater or lesser elevation or height of thecushion 20 in order to enable the cushion to engage the user's legs andsupport the upper side frames when the user bends into a partial sittingor standing position. Thus, the height of the cushion 20 and thelocation of the arm rests 80 can provide a stable sitting and risingstructure that can support an invalid user.

Additionally, the seat cushion device of the present invention can alsobe used as a height enhancing chair to support a small child. Forexample, the cushion 20 can be sized to lift a child to a sufficientheight to access a table, or to a height convenient for receiving a haircut when in a salon chair.

In use, the portable seat cushion device 10 can be placed on a sittingsurface such as a chair 98, as shown in FIGS. 7-8. The user can turn toposition the chair 98 and portable seat cushion device 10 behind theuser's back. The user can then bend into a partial sitting position andcan grasp the arm rests 80 for support. The user can then lower into theportable seat cushion 10 so that the foam 28 can deflect to thecompressed state. To rise out of the seat, the user can grasp the armrests 80 and exert a downward force on the arm rests to rise into apartial standing position. The foam 28 of the cushion 20 can exert anupward force on the user as the foam returns to an uncompressed state.Once in a standing position, the user can remove the portable seatcushion 10 from the sitting surface.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, another portable seat cushion device 100 isshown in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.The portable seat cushion device 100 can be similar in many respects tothe seat cushion device 10 and 70 described above and shown in FIGS.1-8. Additionally, the seat cushion device 100 can include a frame,indicated generally at 150, with a base 152 that can extend through alower portion 118 of a foam 128 material in a cushion, indicatedgenerally at 120. In this way, a bottom 122 of the cushion can restagainst the sitting surface as opposed to the frame 150.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, another portable seat cushion device 200 isshown in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.The portable seat cushion device 200 can be similar in many respects tothe seat cushion devices 10 and 100 described above and shown in FIGS.1-9.

Additionally, the seat cushion device 200 can include a cushion,indicated generally at 220, having a plurality of foam sections 228. Inone aspect, the cushion 220 can have two foam sections 228 and 229 thatcan have different densities that can provide different stiffness toeach of the foam sections 228 and 229. Moreover, the foam sections 228and 229 can be configured to provide a softer, more compressive foam ontop and a stiffer more resilient or spring like foam on the bottom. Inthis way, a multiple density cushion 220 can provide a softer sittingsection 228 and a more spring like section 229 with a greater upward,compression resistive force for assisting a user when rising from thecushion 220. Additionally, more or fewer foam sections can be added asnecessary to accommodate the size of the user.

The present invention also provides for a method for manufacturing aportable sitting assistance device including forming a cradle or framehaving a U-shaped cross section. A cushion can be sized to fit withinthe U-shaped cradle or frame. The cushion can be placed within theU-shape of the U-shaped cradle or frame.

The present invention also provides for a method for sitting and risingfrom a chair including placing a base of a U-shaped frame or cradle of aportable sitting assistance device on a sitting surface with a cushiondisposed above the base. A pair arm rests disposed on opposite sides ofthe cushion can be grasped. The arm rests can be coupled to upwardlyextending sides of the U-shaped frame or cradle. The method for sittingalso includes lowering into a sitting position on the cushion whileusing or grasping the pair of arm rests for support. The method forrising can include rising from a sitting position by pushing downward onthe pair of arm rests.

It is to be understood that the above-referenced arrangements are onlyillustrative of the application for the principles of the presentinvention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements can bedevised without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. While the present invention has been shown in the drawingsand fully described above with particularity and detail in connectionwith what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferredembodiment(s) of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinaryskill in the art that numerous modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the principles and concepts of the invention as set forthherein.

1. A portable sitting assistance device, comprising: a) a cushionconfigured to be sat upon; b) a U-shaped cradle, extending adjacent abottom and upward along two opposite sides of the cushion; c) a pair ofarm rests, each arm rest coupled to the cradle adjacent one of the twoopposite sides of the cushion; and d) the arm rests and a top of thecushion being at substantially equal elevations.
 2. A device inaccordance with claim 1, the U-shaped cradle further comprising: a) apair of U-shaped frames positioned in a parallel spaced apart relationwith respect to one another, each frame having: i) a base frameextending adjacent a bottom of the cushion; and ii) a pair of upwardlyextending side frames, each side frame coupled to an opposite side ofthe base and extending upward from the base along one of the twoopposite sides of the cushion; and b) each of the pair of arm restscoupling corresponding side frames of the different U-shaped frames toform the U-shaped cradle.
 3. A device in accordance with claim 1,wherein the cushion is deflectable between a compressed position and anuncompressed position with the top of the cushion and the pair of armrests being at substantially equal elevations when the cushion is in theuncompressed position.
 4. A device in accordance with claim 1, whereinthe top of the cushion is compressible to an elevation approximatelyhalf the elevation of the pair of arm rests when the cushion isdeflected under an applied load.
 5. A device in accordance with claim 1,wherein the elevation of the arm rests with respect to a base of thepair of U-shaped frames positions the arm rests in a user accessibleposition to provide lateral support to the user when the user sits orrises from the portable seat cushion device.
 6. A device in accordancewith claim 1, wherein the elevation of the cushion in an undeflectedstate is greater than about 6 inches.
 7. A device in accordance withclaim 1, wherein the elevation of the cushion in an undeflected state isapproximately 8½ inches.
 8. A device in accordance with claim 1, whereinthe cushion includes a foam material configured to deflect under anapplied load and store energy during deflection so as to resistdeflection by providing a substantially opposite force to the appliedload, and to assist a user rising from a sitting position on thecushion.
 9. A device in accordance with claim 1, the cushion furtherincluding: a) a lower foam material disposed adjacent a base of the pairof U-shaped frames; b) an upper foam material disposed above the lowerfoam material; c) the upper and lower foam materials having differentstiffness to provide different resistive forces to loads applied to thecushion.
 10. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the lower foammaterial is relatively stiffer than the upper foam material.
 11. Adevice in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: a) a cushioncover, substantially enclosing the cushion; and b) a frame cover,substantially enclosing the pair of U-shaped frames and the pair ofarmrests.
 12. A device in accordance with claim 11, wherein the cushioncover includes a moisture resistant barrier to protect a foam materialof the cushion from liquids transferred to the cushion cover.
 13. Adevice in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: a) a handle,coupled to the cushion, and configured to lift the portable seat cushiondevice.
 14. A device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: a)a non-slip surface, disposed below the cushion and U-shaped frames, andconfigured to resist inadvertent lateral movement of the portable seatcushion device.
 15. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein thepair of U-shaped frames includes a tubular frame member.
 16. A device inaccordance with claim 1, wherein the cushion is sizable to providesupport to a user in a partial sitting or partial standing position. 17.A portable seat cushion device, configured to assist a user in risingfrom a seated position, comprising: a) a cushion configured to be satupon; b) a pair of U-shaped frames extending adjacent a bottom and alongtwo opposite sides of the cushion in a parallel, spaced apart relationwith respect to one another; c) a pair of arm rests, each arm restcoupling different sides of the U-shaped frames; and d) the pair of armrests and a top of the cushion being at substantially equal elevations.18. A device in accordance with claim 17, the pair of U-shaped framesfurther comprising: a) a base frame extending adjacent a bottom of thecushion; b) a pair of upwardly extending side frames, each side framecoupled to an opposite side of the base frame and extending upward fromthe base frame along one of the two opposite sides of the cushion; andc) the side frames being configured to support an applied load duringentry or exit of the cushion by the user.
 19. A method for sitting andrising from a chair, comprising: a) placing a base of a U-shaped cradleof a portable sitting assistance device on a sitting surface with acushion disposed above the base; b) grasping a pair arm rests disposedon opposite sides of the cushion, the arm rests being coupled toupwardly extending sides of the U-shaped cradle; c) lowering into asitting position on the cushion while pushing against the pair of armrests for support.
 20. A method in accordance with claim 19, furthercomprising: a) raising from a sitting position by pushing downward onthe pair of arm rests.